Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item :http://hdl.handle.net/2066/99823

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Subject:

Social DevelopmentWork, Health and Performance

Organization:

SW OZ BSI AOSW OZ BSI ON

Journal title:

International Journal of Psychophysiology

Volume:

vol. 81

Issue:

iss. 3

Page start:

p. 237

Page end:

p. 244

Abstract:

This study examined the psychological processes that may impede or facilitate cardiovascular recovery. It was hypothesized that cardiovascular recovery would be hampered by negative affect and rumination, and facilitated by positive affect. In an experimental study, stress was elicited by exposing participants (N = 110) to a mental arithmetic task with harassment. After the stress task, affective levels were manipulated via a movie scene with negative, neutral, or positive emotional valence, or without an affect manipulation (control condition). During the entire experiment, heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were measured continuously. Results indicated that blood pressure recovery was hampered by the negative affect manipulation and by rumination. However, the positive affect manipulation did not facilitate blood pressure recovery. No effects were found on heart rate recovery. In sum, the findings emphasize the importance of negative affect and rumination in stress recovery.